A couple of things to think about
The church is not a place for people to hear the gospel, but a people who have been changed by the gospel.
If a pastor (or other leader) is “doing the work of 2-3 people,” then others are not doing their part, and the church will not grow as it should (regardless of how great the pastor or leader may be at doing stuff). The growth of the church is not dependent on pastors doing everything (or even most things) great, but on all believers doing their part.
If you are not spending time (intimately) with people taking care of their needs and helping them grow in maturity, then you are not a pastor, regardless of what your title may be. If you are spending time (intimately) with people taking care of their needs and helping them grow in maturity, then you are a pastor, regardless of what your title may not be.
It would be an interesting exercise to take this formula and apply it to evangelists, teachers, prophets, and Apostles.
I think this whole “title” deal is confusing. I would put it:
If you are not spending time (intimately) with people taking care of their needs and helping them grow in maturity, then you are not DOING THE WORK OF pastorING, regardless of what your title may be. If you are spending time (intimately) with people taking care of their needs and helping them grow in maturity, then you are DOING THE WORK OF pastorING.
I do not possess the gift of pastor. I have had to learn from those who do how to do that work and I do the work. I do not do it well. I am continually asking God and others with the gift for help. According to Eph. 4:11,12 these gifts are their to help the whole body do what needs to be done. So I think one of the main jobs of all those who possess these gifts mentioned in Eph. 4 are to help pass on what God has given them to help others accomplish these jobs. So the evangelist is teaching others how to bring the lost to the King…ETC.
My point is that anyone can be equipped to do what needs to be done. That does not then give them a title…it just gives someone the opportunity to serve the King.
Miguel,
How would you apply the formula to evangelists, teachers, prophets, and apostles?
Darrell,
I understand the concern about the noun “pastor”, but I use it like the nouns “teacher” and “prophet”.
I love what you said about pastoring yourself. Yes, even those of us who are not gifted at pastoring are responsible for pastoring, in the same way that we’re responsible for giving, encouraging, teaching, etc. even if we’re not gifted in those areas.
-Alan